Riding the Rivers and Rails: Justin Townes Earle and Captain Doc Hawley

Have you ever sailed the Mississippi on a riverboat? Heard a calliope bounce notes off a barge? Caught the freight train boogie? This week on American Routes, we’re riding the rails and sailing sails with words and music dedicated to two old forms of transport. We’ll visit with Captain Doc Hawley, a calliope player on the “Natchez” in New Orleans to find out what it takes to make a boat sing. And a conversation with singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, who knows a thing or two about trains. Plus music about rivers, railcars and riding around.

HOUR ONE

Freight Train Buddy Miller and the Magnificent Strings
Buddy Miller and the Magnificent Strings, New West

Cross-Tie Walker Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival: 1969, Fantasy

Mystery Train Little Junior Parker and His Blue Flames
Night Train: Classic Railroad Songs, Volume 3, Rounder

All Aboard Muddy Waters
Night Train: Classic Railroad Songs, Volume 3, Rounder

Blue Railroad Train Delmore Brothers
Brown's Ferry Blues, County

Freight Train Blues Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan, Columbia

Ol' Cannonball North Mississippi Allstars
Keys to the Kingdom, Songs of the South

Instrumental: Railroad Bill Etta Baker
Railroad Bill, Sire

SEGMENT: Justin Townes Earle

Wreck of the Old '97 Johnny Cash
The Man in Black: 1954-1958, Bear Family

Freight Train Boogie Doc Watson
Elementary Doctor Watson, Tomato

Casey Jones The Grateful Dead
Workingman's Dead, Warrner Bros

Instrumental: Waiting on a Train Jorma Kaukonen
Blue Country Heart, Columbia

2:19 John Hammond
Wicked Grin, Virgin

Waiting for the Train to Come In Peggy Lee
The Best of Miss Peggy Lee, Capitol

Broken Hearted Traveler Floyd Dixon
His Complete Aladdin Recordings, Capitol

Little Rootie Tootie Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk, Prestige

Dixie Flyer Randy Newman
The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 2, Nonesuch

End Bed: Phantom Fantasie Fletcher Henderson
Jazz Tribune No30: The Indispensable Fletcher Henderson, RCA

HOUR TWO

Frankie and Johnny Fate Marable
That Devlin' Tune: A Jazz History 1895-1950, WHRA

Steamboat The Drifters
Rockin' and Driftin', Rhino

Old Man River The Ravens
Old Man River, Savoy Jazz

Mississippi River Blues Big Bill Broonzy
When the Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In, RCA

Mississippi Delta Blues Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family

CLIP: Johnny St. Cyr

Instrumental: Riverboat Shuffle Bix Beiderbecke
Vol. 2: Bix Lives, Naxos Jazz

SEGMENT: Riverboat Captain Doc Hawley

Natchez Whistle John Hartford
Headin' Down Into the Mystery Below, Flying Fish

Long Gone Lonesome Blues Hank Williams
The Original Singles Collection…Plus, Polydor

J'Etais a la Riviere (I Went to the River) Camey Doucet
Camey Doucet –Jimmy Thibodeaux et Musique, Swallow

I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water Charlie Rich
Feels Like Home: The Essential Charlie Rich, Epic

Instrumental: Moon River Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones
Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones, Nonesuch

Riverboat Lee Dorsey
The Greatest Hits & More 1960-1978, Charly

To the River Smiley Lewis
Shame, Shame, Shame, Bear Family

Down By the River Johnny Adams
Reconsider Me: A Golden Classics Edition, Collectibles

Bring it On Home Sonny Boy Williamson
His Best, Chess

That's Where I'm Going Eilen Jewell
Queen of the Minor Key, Signature Sounds

Take Me to the River Al Green
Explores Your Mind, Right Stuff

End Bed: Calliope Doc Hawley
American Routes Original Recording

Next
Next

Crescent City Jam Sessions